Giants Sneak Past Rawhide 3-2 on Their Opening Night
Published on April 12, 2013 under California League (CalL1)
Visalia Rawhide News Release
SAN JOSE - The Rawhide starter orchestrated another quality start, but it was not enough as Visalia fell to the San Jose Giants 3-2 on their Opening Night on Thursday night at Municipal Stadium.
Rawhide starter Keith Hessler was impressive on the mound against a somewhat daunting San Jose lineup. He tied a team high, going 7.0 innings and allowing just one earned run, despite giving up 10 hits. He pitched to contact all night and it paid off.
The only runs for the Rawhide came in the fourth inning. After base hit singles from Evan Marzilli and Gerson Montilla, the power hitting Yazy Arbelo picked up his first RBI of the season with a double into the left field gap to plate Marzilli. Raywilly Gomez picked up his third RBI of the season with a sacrifice fly to score Montilla and give the Rawhide a 2-1 lead.
Hessler ran into some bad luck in the bottom of the 5th after surrenduring a leadoff double followed by a sharp single hit right back at him to put two runners on and no outs. Both runners were able to move into scoring position after a passed ball by Gomez. Bobby Haney was able to make the Rawhide pay with a sacrifice fly RBI to tie the game up at 2-2.
The game would remain in a deadlock until the 9th inning. The Rawhide had their chance to take the lead in the 9th after a two out single by Raywilly Gomez. He was able to advance to second base and put himself in scoring position after catcher Eliezer Zambrano let a pitch slip past him. However Tom Belza was unable to deliver as he went down swinging for the third out.
It didn't take long for the Giants to take care of business in the bottom of the frame. Chris Lofton led off with a single off of reliever Diogenes Rosario (0-1) and he was able to move into scoring position after a groundout. Ydwin Villegas played the hero, shooting the winning RBI double into center field to plate Lofton and secure the victory for San Jose.
The Rawhide will send Kyle Winkler to the mound to face Giants top prospect Kyle Crick on Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 pm.
California League Stories from April 12, 2013
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- Giants Sneak Past Rawhide 3-2 on Their Opening Night - Visalia Rawhide
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- Nuts Fall 9-4, Get Set for Home Opener - Modesto Nuts
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- Storm Win Home Opener - Lake Elsinore Storm
- Modesto Bats No Match for Rollins, Perez - Lancaster JetHawks
- Giants Win Home Opener in Walk-Off Fashion - San Jose Giants
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